The work of the Emergence@ASU group is highlighted in a recent interview with Prof. Sara Walker by Bruce Dorminey at Forbes.com. Here's a clip from the article:

“The role of information in physical systems might be a way of understanding life and human existence in terms of physics,” said Walker. “So, we’re hoping for a more satisfying answer to why we’re here. If we have a better understanding of what life is, then we can better understand why it exists in the universe.”

National Public Radio's Science Friday is reading a science fiction classic this summer: Frank Herbert’s ecological epic Dune. Sci-fi author Kim Stanley Robinson and Emergence@ASU's own Sara Imari Walker will be reading right along with SciFri listeners, posing weekly discussion questions on the SciFri Book Club blog. (Check out discussion question #1). And, you can participate!

First, get a copy of the book and listen to the kickoff broadcast with Kim Stanley Robinson and Sara Imari Walker on Friday, July 25th. Share your comments, questions, and Dune media using the hashtag #SciFriBookClub or email the book club at bookclub@sciencefriday.com. And check out the SciFri blog every week for a new discussion question from one of theSciFri Book Club leaders. Finally, be sure to tune into the wrap-up discussion on Friday, August 22, and join the conversation on the air.

A new review paper has been published in the journal Information on "Top-Down Causation and the Rise of Information in the Emergence of Life" which discusses how the origin of life can be identified as the emergence of natural computational systems and how life's mysterious origins could be quantifiable in terms of information flow. You can read the full paper here.

Astrobiology: An Evolutionary Approach is an interdisciplinary textbook that presents astrobiology as a dynamic, developing science of the utmost importance for the future of humanity. Featuring contributions from leaders in physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, molecular biology, ecology, planetary science, geography, and geology, the book discusses the evolution of abiotic matter to biotic matter and emphasizes new discoveries in prebiotic chemistry, such as solid-state (solventless), in/on-water, and multicomponent reactions. It describes the most challenging problems involved in the field of astrobiology and invites the reader to become actively involved in their solution. Look for the chapter titled "Transition from Abiotic to Biotic: Is There an Algorithm for It?" contributed by Prof. Walker!

The dog that didnʼt bark in Arthur Conan Doyleʼs story Silver Blaze is infamous for giving Sherlock Holmes meaningful information about the dogʼs non-canine environment. In a new paper out titled "Quantum Non-Barking Dogs" we probe whether an atom that has not decayed or a particle that has not tunneled can provide measurable information about physical changes in its environment. You can read the full paper by Sara Walker, Paul Davies, Prasant Samantray and Yakir Aharonov here.